_{Asian Racing Conference}

Mr. Andrew Harding, Asian Racing Federation (ARF) Secretary General, and Executive Director, Racing, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, on behalf of Mr.Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, ARF Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, delivered the opening address of the business sessions of the 38th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) on Wednesday morning.

BBC journalist and conference moderator Mr. David Eades introduced a lively Plenary Session 4, entitled Protecting Racing's Integrity, on Thursday morning at the 38th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) in Cape Town, South Africa.

Mr. Douglas Robinson, Deputy Chairman, Asian Racing Federation (ARF) Anti-Illegal Betting Taskforce, and Senior Due Diligence and Research Manager, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, warned of the “war” racing faces against illegal betting as he moderated Plenary Session 5 on Thursday afternoon at the 38th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) in Cape Town, South Africa.

Racecourses, by their very nature, take up large swathes of land, but historically, their use has been restricted to horse racing. However, with growing demands for prime land in urban areas and a changing market for leisure and entertainment consumers, there is a need for racecourses to diversify and adapt.

Ms. Victoria Carter, Deputy Chair of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing, opened Thursday’s Plenary Session 7 of the 38th Asian Racing Conference (ARC), titled ‘Ensuring the wellbeing of racing athletes’, by asking: “Are we, the administrators, doing enough to support our jockeys? They may be self-employed, but without them we have no sport.”

Dr. Makoto Inoue, Vice-Chair, Asian Racing Federation (ARF), Presidential Counsellor for International Affairs, Japan Racing Association (JRA), opened the second Plenary Session of the 38th Asian Racing Conference (ARC) exploring innovative race concepts, with a reminder that while tradition is important, there is a need for innovation.